President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema of Gabon and Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), officially inaugurated a major water pumping station in Libreville’s PK5 district on Monday, June 16, marking a key milestone in Gabon’s ongoing efforts to enhance access to clean drinking water and sanitation infrastructure.
The newly commissioned facility, part of the Libreville Integrated Water Supply and Sanitation Program, is designed to address long-standing water shortages in the capital. The PK5 water pumping station has a daily processing capacity of up to 57,600 cubic metres, significantly boosting the city’s water distribution capabilities.
The infrastructure project is the result of a €117.4 million investment, jointly financed by the African Development Bank (€75.4 million) and the Africa Growing Together Fund (€42 million), a collaborative fund managed by the Bank Group in partnership with China.
The project was first approved in October 2018 by the AfDB’s Board of Directors and is part of a larger integrated development effort aimed at strengthening urban water systems and improving the quality of life for the residents of Libreville and surrounding areas.
Following the inauguration, President Oligui Nguema and Dr. Adesina engaged with local residents in the Libreville neighborhoods that have benefited directly from the new infrastructure. Many in these communities have long faced unreliable water supply, poor sanitation, and health risks related to contaminated water sources.
“This project is a powerful example of what development finance can achieve when aligned with national priorities and people’s needs,” Dr. Adesina said during the ceremony. “Water is life, and with this pumping station, we are giving the people of Libreville not just clean water, but dignity and hope.”
The Libreville Integrated Water Supply and Sanitation Program includes additional components such as rehabilitation of aging water infrastructure, expansion of distribution networks, and capacity-building within public utilities to ensure sustainable management.
President Oligui Nguema emphasized the government’s commitment to delivering on essential services. “This infrastructure will not only serve thousands of families in Libreville but also shows our resolve to build a future where all Gabonese have access to clean water and proper sanitation,” he said.
In addition to the launch event, Dr. Adesina is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with senior Gabonese government officials. The talks will focus on the state of cooperation between Gabon and the African Development Bank, as well as strategic priorities under the upcoming National Development Plan 2025–2032.
Gabon, a member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), has partnered with the African Development Bank on various development initiatives, particularly in energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and health.
The opening of the PK5 station underscores the Bank’s increasing role in water and sanitation investments across Africa, recognizing the sector’s critical link to public health, education, gender equality, and economic growth.
As climate change continues to threaten water security in many parts of Africa, the AfDB’s investments in resilient water infrastructure—such as this station in Libreville—form part of a broader agenda to build inclusive and sustainable urban environments.
